Improvement in steam furnace-blowers



THOMAS J. HIGKEY, or aonnour, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM FURNACE-BLOWERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 192,433, dated June 26,1877 application filed March 19, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS J. HIGKEY, ofRondout, in the county of Ulster and State of New York, have invented anew and Improved Steam-Jet for Furnaces; and that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, making part of this specification.

This invention is in the nature of an improvement in steam jets forfurnaces; and the invention consists in a device for increasing thedraft of furnaces, consisting of a horizontal shell into which isintroduced a steaur pipe, and provided with a vertical air-cylinder anda shaft with vanes or wings within the air cylinder and within thehorizontal shell.

In the accompanying drawing is represented a longitudinal section of myimproved steam-jet.

The application of steam-jets to furnaces for the purpose of increasingthe draft of the furnace by creating a partial vacuum, which is suppliedwith fresh outer air, is well known.

By my invention not only are all the advantages of the ordinarysteam'jet retained, but the efficacy of the contrivance is materiallyincreased.

To that end I construct my steam-jet with a conical shell, A, and with avertical cylinder, B, surrounding an opening in the upper side of theshell A. The shell A being conical, a steam-pipe, G, is introduced inits outer or larger end, as in steam-jets of ordinary construction, andthrough the vertical cylinder B is inserted a shaft, to, which passesthrough this cylinder and transversely through the shell A to a seat orhearing, b, fixed to the inner lower surface of the shell A, on whichthe shaft it rests, the upper end of the shaft passing through asuitable bearing, 0, fixed at or near the top of the vertical cylinderB. To the shaft a is affixed a helical vane, D, this vane lying withinthe vertical cylinder B, and to the lower part of the shaft, or thatpart of it which is transverse to the axis of the shell A, are fixedother vanes or wings E, in the form of the blades of a propeller.

My steam jet, constructed as above described, is operated by insertingthe smaller end of the shell A in any desirable manner beneath thegrate-bars of the furnace. A jet of steam is then introduced through thepipe 0, which, passing rapidly through the shell A, produces a vacuum orpartial vacuum, which is at once filled by the external air rushingthrough the shell A with considerable force beneath the grate-bars, andfacilitating combustion by increased supply of oxygen. This, as beforestated, is the construction and operation of the ordinary steam-jet.

Although the steam -jet will create a vacuum in the large end of theshell A, such a vacuum, however, will not be created throughout theentire length of the shell, but the air at its smaller end will be tosome extent under pressure. Now, as the steam impinges against the vanesE the shaft to which the helical vane D is affixed will be rapidlyrotated, and by the rotation of the helical vane draws the air throughthe vertical cylinder B, and thereby give an increased supply within theshell A to be forced into the furnace by the steam-jet.

The construction and form of the vanes or wings may be modified andvaried from those shown in the drawings accompanying this applicationwithout materlallyaftecting the result produced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In a device for increasing the draft of fur uaces constructed with ahorizontal shell and vertical cylinder, the combination of a helicalvane within the vertical cylinder, and vanes within the horizontalshell, arranged to re volve by the force of the steam-jet, and to permitthe helical vane to draw the external air through the vertical cylinderinto the horizont'al shell and to the furnace, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

rrnoMAs J. HIGKEY.

Witnesses:

ADOLPH ISRAEL, GEo. F. STEPEAN.

